Dial-A-Ride

What is DIAL-A-RIDE?

Dial-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb advanced reservation transportation service for seniors and persons with disabilities. Service is provided during the same hours of operation as local fixed-route bus service in that area. There is no service on some major holidays. RTA has two types of Dial-A-Ride service:

ADA Priority Dial-A-Ride Service

RTA gives priority service to individuals who are certified under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Persons who are ADA certified are eligible for trips throughout the RTA service area that are within three-quarters of a mile of local fixed-route bus service and during the hours of bus service operation. Individuals who are ADA certified are eligible to bring a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) at no cost if your ADA card permits. A companion or child may come along only if space is available and will be required to pay a fare.

Senior/Disabled Dial-A-Ride Service

Seniors age 65 and above and persons with disabilities are eligible for local Dial-A-Ride service within the City of Temecula and within three-quarters of a mile of local fixed-route bus service and during the hours of bus service operation. Transportation is provided only to destinations within Temecula. Companions may come along if space permits and if they are a senior or a person with a disability. Companions will be required to pay a fare. Children are not eligible to ride along on the Senior/Disabled Dial-A-Ride service.

How do I use DIAL-A-RIDE?

Dial-A-Ride customers may schedule rides one to three days in advance. RTA encourages customers to provide as much advance notice as possible to allow schedulers to more efficiently route vehicles. To request a ride, call (800) 795-7887 or TTY (800) 396-3610. Dial- A-Ride requests are taken Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. When making a request, please have the following information available:

The date and time of travel

Your pick-up time and address

Your destination address

When you would like to arrive at your destination

Your return time and address

Verify whether you will be using a mobility aid such as a wheelchair, walker or service animal. If you use a wheelchair, it may not be larger than 30 inches wide and 48 inches long and your combined weight with your wheelchair may not exceed 600 pounds, or we will be unable to accommodate your trip.

Confirm that you will be travelling with a companion or an authorized personal care attendant. (Companions are required to pay the full fare.)

Negotiating Trip Times

Due to the high volume of requests, RTA may be unable to give customers the exact time they request. RTA allows for a negotiated pick-up time within one hour before or after the requested trip time. If your return time changes, call (800) 795-7887 as soon as possible and we will make every attempt to reschedule you.

Be Ready for Your Trip

When making a reservation, you will be given a 30-minute pick-up window (for example: 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.). Because your ride may arrive any time within that 30-minute window, you must be ready and waiting to go at the start of the window. Be prepared to show your appropriate ADA and picture identification cards to the driver. Once your trip is scheduled and you board the vehicle, you may not change your destination. RTA provides a curb-to-curb Dial-A-Ride service. Vehicles are not allowed to go into driveways and drivers are not allowed to loose sight of their vehicle at any time. If you are not present when the vehicle arrives, the driver will wait five minutes. After five minutes, the driver will mark you as a no-show. There are penalties for excessive no-shows.

Cancelling a Ride

If a trip needs to be cancelled, cancel it as early as possible by calling (951) 943-0319 or (866) 543-4782 or TTY (800) 369-3610 or you can e-mail us at cancel@RiversideTransit.com. Trips may be cancelled up to 6 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled ride time without penalty. If you cancel a trip after that time, you may be assessed penalty points that may result in suspension of service. More than three unexcused no-shows within a 30-day period will result in a 15-day suspension.

If a Dial-A-Ride customer is a no-show for the first part of a round trip, RTA will not automatically cancel the return trip. It is the customer’s responsibility to call and cancel if the return trip will not be needed. Failure to cancel the return trip may result in a no-show.

Checking on Your Ride

If your ride appears to be running late, you may check on it by calling (800) 795-7887. Please do not call to check on your ride until your 30-minute pickup window has begun.

Travel Time

Be aware that Dial-A-Ride is a shared service and you may be riding with other customers who may be picked up or dropped off before you. The time of your trips may vary, and direct service to your destination may not be available. Some trips may include a transfer.

Fares

The base fare for Dial-A-Ride service is $3.00 per passenger, per boarding. The maximum fare is $9.00 per one-way trip and will be based on the number of city zones you travel. Depending on where your trip begins and ends, you may be required to transfer. Exact fare for the entire trip is required and must be paid upon boarding your first bus. Drivers cannot give change. When you schedule your trip the operator will tell you the fare required for that trip.

Only ADA-certified passengers may bring personal care attendants. If eligible, your attendant may accompany you at no charge and an additional companion may ride for $3.00 per fare zone if space is available. If your child is serving as your personal care attendant, he/she may ride if space is available. Children under 47” tall ride for 50 cents per fare zone.

Buddy Fare

The Buddy Fare is a great way to save money on Dial-A-Ride. With this special program, two to 10 eligible customers can share the fare for each fare zone. The entire group must be picked up within a half-mile radius of each other and travel to the same destination.